Thursday, March 3, 2011

Dear God,

How is it possible, O God, to see what was once hidden from our eyes? How can we be so blind and then suddenly see so perceptibly?

Since our recent retreat my colleagues and I have been emailing one another with insights that have emerged as we moved forward in faith. Committed to being life-long learners with a willingness to travel the spiritual road, we have taken our newfound revelations and applied them to our individual lives. Some pretty remarkable things are happening.

My question is how do we train ourselves to open our eyes, hearts, souls and minds earlier? How do we make changes in our abilities to see and hear more readily? How do we prepare ourselves for subtle shifts in the landscape that give us opportunity to let go of present holdings so we can transform ourselves? I suspect living in anticipation of your presence that nudges us to take another look is part of the answer.

As I sat in our writing room today, I saw a pair of cardinals in the crab apple tree. I stared at them as I watched them hop from one branch to another, feed on shriveled berries and then drop down to the pond for a drink. In the summer when the tree is fully flowered, I can't see birds nested inside. It is only when the trees are bare that I can see clearly.

Perhaps there truly is a time and season when we are more apt to look and see, to listen and hear. Perhaps living every day watching for the slightest movement of your spirit can stir us to turn toward the Master and find you waiting.

Make me
a willing participant
in each
moment's creation,
O Great Creator.
Do what
you will
to teach me
the way
of your spirit.
Make me receptive
to your will
that I may
follow your lead,
I pray.

Love, Andrea